14 DAY TRIAL // As we're getting closer to Google I/O, we get more rumors on what could possibly be revealed during the conference.
Android M is likely to take a big chunk of the event, though not many things are known about the upcoming OS version.
The latest rumor coming from AndroidPolice suggests that Google will follow the same strategy as last year and will release a developer preview of the new OS later this year.
Google is expected to announce Android M this week, but the final version of the operating system won't be available until August.
This is a bold decision from Google, as the company usually launched a new version of Android in late fall, along with a pair of Nexus devices (smartphone + tablet).
We reported earlier today that Google plans to launch not one, but two Nexus smartphones this year. They are currently known as LG Angler and Huawei Bullheaded, but few details are known about their specs and availability.
Android M developer preview in June is a possibility
However, since Google plans to release the final build of Android M in August, there's a high chance that these Nexus smartphones will be launched on the market in early fall.
As mentioned earlier, Google will first launch an Android M developer preview, which will probably be available for Nexus devices only.
It's unclear when Android M developer preview will be available for download, but since the search giant plans to launch it in August, the preview might arrive as early as June.
Keep in mind though this is just a rumor, so the release timeframes might change by the time Google makes Android M official.
Anyway, it's good that Google will offer Nexus owners another developer preview just like it did last year. That way it will be able to improve Android M based on user feedback.